1. Veteran Employment Initiative
Transition GPS/TAP
Training for Command Career Counselors
Updated: 2 Jan 2013

2. Topics VEI/VOW Exemptions Implementation Timeline CCC Role
Background; VEI Core; Career Readiness Standards
Exemptions
Implementation Timeline
CCC Role
Pre-separation Counseling
2648; ITP; DD Form 2958
Required Documentation for attend TGPS/TAP
Member Responsibilities
CAPSTONE Event
Completion of ITP Checklist (DD Form 2958)
Documentation and Tracking in CIMS

3. Veteran Employment Initiative & VOW ACT Background
Presidential Interagency Task Force (DoD, VA, DoL, SBA, ED, OPM, OMB, WH) announced 5 Aug 2011
High veteran unemployment and expected “drawdown”
Develop proposals to maximize career readiness
New training and service delivery models
Strengthen transition from military to civilian life
VOW to Hire Heroes Act signed on 21 Nov 2011
Improve existing Transition Assistance Program
Mandatory participation in elements of Transition Program (with limited exemptions to be approved by SECDEF) by 21 Nov 2012
NOTES:
VOW ACT
Mandates the provisions of Title 10 (§1144) for all Service members and their spouses who are within 12 months of separation, within 24 months of retirement.
Require collaboration between DOL, DoD, VA, DHS, ED, OPM and SBA to provide employment assistance, job training assistance, veterans’ benefits.
Agencies with special programs and initiatives for wounded, ill and injured service members will be integrated into all existing program.
Expands VA’s authority to pay employers for providing on-job training to Veterans.
Separate but complementary initiatives

4. VEI Core Recommendations
Adopt standards of career readiness
PQS for transition: DD Form 2648, ITP and ITP Checklist (DD Form 2958)
Implement a revamped transition assistance curriculum
Transition GPS (Goals, Plan, Succeed) revised curriculum
Legacy TAP fulfills requirement until TGPS fully implemented
Optional tailored workshops
Implement a “CAPSTONE” Event
Validate Career Readiness Standards
Warm hand-off to partners for any unresolved issues
Implement a “Military Life Cycle” transition model
Navy Career Development Board
In addition to the VOW Act requirements the VEI Task Force, with White House approval, made these recommendations for implementation across the Services.
- Individual Transition Plan (ITP) and ITP Checklist.
* The ITP is based on a standard dod template and is the key document to navigate the Transition GPS curriculum.
* Completion of the ITP is based on service members ability to meet career readiness standards commensurate with desired employment, education, or technical training objectives prior to separation.
* The ITP Checklist (dd form 2958) coincides with the ITP and should be issued to SVM at the time of pre-separation counseling. This checklist must be completed prior to SVM separation, certified by transition counselor, approved by SVM’s commander or designated representative and filed in member’s service record along with the DD Form 2648.
Transition GPS versus legacy TAP workshops.
* For purposes of meeting objectives of vow act and Transition GPS, attendance at legacy TAP workshops suffice for meeting the above requirements
Concept recommended by SECDEF/SECVA
Concept approved and announced by the President 4

5. Career Readiness Standards (CRS)
Core Curriculum
Outcome
Continuum of Military Service decision.
Military Occupational Code (MOC) Crosswalk documenting civilian certification, licensure, and/or apprenticeship applicability.
Registration for VA eBenefits and relevant applications (e.g., Initial claim, home loans, health benefits, prescription benefits, and GI Bill transferability).
12 month budget reflecting personal goals.
Standardized Individual Transition Plan (ITP) documenting personal and employment/entrepreneurship/ education/technical training goals, actions, and milestones.
DoL Employment Workshop Outcomes
“Gold Card” Certificate for DoL One-Stop Career Centers.
Job Application Package that includes:
Resume (private and/or federal
Reference list (personal and professional
Job applications (2)
Education Track Outcomes
List of suitable colleges or universities.
Application package for a selected college or university.
Confirmed one-on-one counseling with an advisor at a college or university.
Documented connection with Student Veterans Organization (SVO).
Technical Training Track Outcomes
List of suitable Technical Training institutions.
Application package for a selected Technical Training institution
Understanding of web-based tools for certification training.
Confirmed one-on-one counseling with an advisor at a technical training institution .
Documented connection with SVO.
NOTE:
Career Readiness Standards are a set of common and measurable transition readiness standards that service members must meet prior to separation.
These standards will guide the professional development of the SM and will ensure that they capitalize on the skills and experiences gained during their military services, and align them to personal civilian career goals.
Entrepreneurship Track Outcomes
Connection to the Small Business Administration (SBA in local area.
Preliminary outline of a business plan.
PQS for Transition – Outcomes of Transition GPS
Part of Individual Transition Plan

6. CAPSTONE & Optional Tracks
CAPSTONE (Mandatory)
Verify outcome-based objectives of the Transition GPS curriculum
Verify service member has a viable plan for transition
EDUCATION TRACK (Optional)
Provides service members with comprehensive assistance in navigating the university education process to ensure academic success
TECHNICAL TRAINING (Optional)
Provides service members with comprehensive assistance in navigating the technical/trade process to ensure success
ENTREPRENEURSHIP (Optional)
Provides overview of entrepreneurship with 8-week follow on class available through SBA
NOTES:
The CAPSTONE event is not intended to be a pro-forma review of course work completion. It is intended to provide a forum where the desired outcomes of transition services/activities are verified.
Service members are evaluated in all dimensions of post-Service preparedness, and where final interventions are made to ensure Service members are career ready to include:
Career Readiness Standards
Verification that an Individual Transition Plan (ITP) is in place/in progress
Pre-separation Counseling was completed
Verification that a short-term budget was completed
Review common risks, and provide recap of available resources
Verification Sailors received VA Benefits Brief/Sign-Up
CAPSTONE Event – to facilitate continued and/or follow-up support as needed by agency partners prior to separation and/or retirement.
DoL, VA, and SBA staff will be present for warm hand-offs.
Additional tracks tailored to use of GI Bill benefits

7. VOW Act Exemption Policy
No Service member, to include Reservist, is exempt from participating in Pre-separation counseling or the VA Benefits Brief.
Exemptions from the DoL Workshop are:
Service members retiring after 20 or more years may opt out.
Members of the Reserve Components and Guard being demobilized/deactivated after serving 180 continuous days or more on Active Duty may opt out.
Must have confirmed employment or documented acceptance to education institution
All Guard and Reserve members who have previously attended TAP may opt out of TAP.
Commanders in the Service member’s chain of command may waive mandatory participation where Sailors are needed to support a unit on orders to be deployed within 60 days.
A “make-up” plan must be developed. [exemption for time requirements]
An exempt Service Member must formally document their decision to not participate on the DD Form 2958.
LIMITED PARTICIPATION:
Bad Conduct or dishonorable discharge – not eligible to attend optional tracks or CAPSTONE event.
Other than honorable discharge – CO determine whether can attend optional tracks or CAPSTONE event.

8. Timeline Timeline Nov 2012 Mandatory TAP attendance
Nov 12 – Oct 2013 Implement new Transition Curriculum workshop
(Transition GPS: Goals – Plan – Success )
January 2014 CAPSTONE required
2014 Implement TAP in Military Life Cycle
(Career Development Board)
Risk
Mitigation Strategy
Funding
FY-12 Navy -- FY-13 go to Hill -- FY-14 in POM
Aggressive Timeline
Dedicated Implementation Team
Staff Hiring
Contract
NAF employees using Unified Funding Management (UFM authorities)
Change Management
Strategic Communications Plan
Fleet and Installation Engagement teams
Compliance Tracking
Interim IT system with minimum information
Facilities
Leasing or purchasing temporary classrooms
Scheduling
Centralized scheduling program
Deployment cycle
Continue to use Command Career Counselors to manage at unit level
ITP development
Recommend standard OSD program where Sailors can develop with minimal supervision
CAPSTONE Event
Service concept approved and piloted
Curriculum development
Pilot to ensure product delivered meets Sailor’s needs

9. Command Career Counselors Role in the Transition Process
Pre-Separation Counseling (DD Form 2648)
Initiate the ITP
Schedule Transition GPS
Schedule VA Brief (for those exempt from Transition GPS)
Update Career Decisions section of CIMS
Verify SNM has required documentation to attend GPS
Completed DD Form 2648/2648-1
VA E-benefits registration
Individual Transition Plan (ITP) with Block 1 initiated
Provide additional counseling assistance as requested
Document CAPSTONE completion date
Verify ITP completion
Document Career Readiness Standards met
Need continued support of Command Career Counselors

10. Pre-Separation Counseling
Pre-separation should be conducted 9-12 months from EAOS
Per NAVADMIN 300/11  All 2648/2648-1s have to be completed via the DMDC website
Print a copy and have member sign it, two copies to member and maintain one for your retain file
Counseling shall include at a minimum:
VA e Benefits registration
Issuing of DD Form 2958 (ITP checklist) and ITP
ITP block 1 to be initiated
Discuss required documentation for attending TGPS/TAP
Schedule member for TGPS or VA Benefits (for exempt members only)
Attendance at legacy TAP suffice for meeting the requirements of VOW Act/VEI.

11. Changes to DD FORM 2648
Updated copy of pre-sep counseling script is available at on the TAP
DOL Employment Workshop mandatory unless exemption criteria is met.
11.d. Inform Service members that “Hire Vets First” is obsolete, check N/A.
15.a. VA Benefits Briefing is mandatory, checking “NO” not an option.
17. Member must develop a12-month post separation budget during PFM Seminar in Transition GPS.
18. Active Component must complete a continuum of Military Service opportunity counseling as part of their CRS.
19. VA briefing mandatory, check “YES”
20 & 21. Members no longer have the option of checking “NO” to VA brief. DTAP is part of the VA Benefits Briefing 1 and 2.
25. Standardized ITP required. Complete Section 1, Block 1 of the ITP, “Personal Assessment”.

12. Individual Transition Plan (ITP)
Print and issue all six blocks of ITP to Service member during pre-sep counseling.
The ITP is an evolving document that is reviewed and modified throughout the entire transition process.
Complete page 1 of block 1 with member. Attach DD Form 2648/ (as appropriate) to ITP.
Inform member to bring ITP to Transition GPS and update accordingly.
ITP will be reviewed by Command Representative during Career Readiness verification.

13. DD Form 2958 ITP Checklist
Section I – Member Information (completed by CCC w/mbr)
Block 8/9 required for documentation of Exemptions
Section II, III & IV – To be completed by member as they work through their ITP
Bold items indicate CRS and must be met based on member’s desired track
ALL required to meet blocks 10, 13, 14, 15(AC) and 20
Employment track - additional blocks 15, 16, 17, 19, 22, 23
Educational track - additional blocks 19, 25, 26, 27

14. Documentation for Attending Transition GPS/TAP
Personnel attend Transition GPS or TAP with the following required pre-requisites:
(1) Completed DD Form 2648/ DD Form
(2) VA E-benefits registration
(3) Individual Transition Plan (ITP) template (with a block 1 initiated)
In addition, to assist members in meeting Career Readiness Standards (CRS) and to obtain the most benefit from the course, it is recommended they bring the following documentation for their own personal use during various modules of the class.
(1) Copy of Career Interest Assessment from O*Net "Interest Profiler“
(2) Copy of VMET
(3) Copy of most recent LES
(4) Copy of Evals/FITREPS
(5) SMART transcript and training record
(6) A copy of your credit report (personal use)

15. Member’s Responsibility
To complete the transition process, member must:
Complete pre-separation counseling.
 Pre-separation counseling begins at least 9-12 months before separation
Complete the Transition GPS Core Curriculum. 
If required, select and complete one of the three optional Transition GPS tracks based on CRS.
Complete DD Form 2958 ITP Checklist and applicable blocks of ITP. 
Attain CRS based on which employment or education/technical training goal he or she intends to pursue after military service.
Complete Capstone event.
Capstone event must be completed no later than 90 days before separation.

16. Transition GPS Model – Full Operational Capability
Day-1
Day-2
Day-3
Day-4
Day-5
Service
Overview
(1hrs.)
DOLEW
Change Mgt. Plan
(3hrs.)
Develop Your Job Search Plan/
Career Exploration & Validation (2hrs.)
Effective Job Search (2hrs)
Building an Effective Resume (7hrs.)
Federal Hiring, Resume, and Programs (1.5hrs.)
Interview Skills (4.5hrs.)
Post-Interview Analysis (1 hr.)
VA Benefits Brief
Education (1hr.)
All Other Benefits (3hrs.)
GPS Military Occupation Crosswalk (2hrs.)
VA Brief
Sign Up
2hrs.
GPS Financial Planning
(4hrs.)
Individual Transition Plan
Review
2hrs
Optional Tracks
DoL Employment Workshop
Education Module
(NAVY – 2 days)
Technical Training Module
(VA 2-days)
Pre-Separation
Counseling
Entrepreneurship Module
(SBA – TBA)
Full Operational Capability (FOC)
Individual Transition Plan
Career Readiness Standards
CAPSTONE
Piloting Transition GPS Curriculum

17. CAPSTONE Event
Preferred method is to attend a CAPSTONE event conducted by transition counselors at Navy transition sites in small group (less than 25) seminars (2-4 hours).
For those unable to attend a transition site CAPSTONE event due to operational commitment, a local CAPSTONE with a transition counselor (CCC or designated rep) will be conducted to verify that mandatory elements on the DD Form 2958 ITP checklist are complete and CRS is verified.
Currently working on a CAPSTONE SOP
Capstone event is mandatory for those separating after 1 January 2014.

18. CAPSTONE Completion of DD Form 2958 ITP Checklist
Section II, III & IV – To be completed by member as they work through their ITP
Bolded item indicate CRS and must be meet based on members desired track
ALL required to meet blocks 10, 13, 14, 15(AC) and 20
Employment track additional blocks- 15, 16, 17, 19, 22, 23
Educational track additional blocks- 19, 25, 26, 27
Section V – Required for those at risk of not attaining employment or educational goals after separation.
Section VI – Upon review of sections II-IV and member’s ITP the Transition Counselor and member’s command representative must verify whether or not CRS has been met.
Either FFSC Staff or CCC may sign block 32a; block 33a must be signed by member’s command.
Ensure DD Form and DD Form 2648 are filed in member’s service record.

19. CIMS Documentation and Tracking
Plan Type - “SEP” (Separation), “FLT” (Fleet Reserve) and RET (Retirement) will bring up the Transition Section.
2. Planned Date - The date of Separation, Fleet Reserve or Retirement.
Only one plan type and date allowed at a time.
Plan Type, Date and All Other GPS Fields can be updated until the Planned Date passes, after that a new plan will need to be created.
3. GPS Required
If yes, # 4 will be hidden.
If no, # 4 is required to be entered.
4. GPS Exemption - Since exemption policy was not published at release only 2 place holders are available Demobilized Reservist and Hospitalized. 4 other Exemptions created and can be activated upon publication of policy.
5. GPS Scheduled Checkbox – updated when the Sailor has a confirmed seat.
6. DD 2648 – Date the Sailor’s DD 2648 was completed
7. ITP Completed – Date the Sailor’s ITP was completed
8. GPS Completed – Date the GPS Course was completed
Capstone Completed – Date the Capstone Course was completed.
10. Career Readiness Indicator – Checked when all requirements of GPS Transition have been completed (The Date Checked is stored in background for reporting if needed.

20. Review VEI/VOW Exemptions Implementation Timeline CCC Role
Background; VEI Core; Career Readiness Standards
Exemptions
Implementation Timeline
CCC Role
Pre-separation Counseling
2648; ITP; DD Form 2958
Required Documentation for attend TGPS/TAP
Member Responsibilities
CAPSTONE Event
Completion of ITP Checklist (DD Form 2958)
Documentation and Tracking in CIMS

21. Navy Transition Career Development Life Cycle Delivery Model
Separate
Accession
Career Progression Retire
Recruit Training
eBenefits
Personal Finance
Education/Career Planning
“A” School
Personal Financial Management
College Credits
Certification/Licensure
First Duty Station
Financial Counseling
Career Development Boards
Individual Development Plan
Significant Life Events
Career Coaching
Family Benefits Review
Family Career Assistance
Mobilization
Demobilization
Reenlistment/Promotion
Professional Development
Financial Planning
Transition
Pre-separation Counseling
Individual Transition Plan
Transition GPS
CAPSTONE
RC Affiliation Retire
Career Development Board
Within 30 days of reporting onboard first duty station
6, 12, 18 months after reporting onboard
Annually thereafter
Coordinated effort of entire chain of command
Education
Employment
Retirement
Sailor Career Toolbox
Develop and manage career
Navy eLearning
Navy COOL
USMAP
SMART Transcript
SMOLAA
Electronic Service Record
Electronic Training Jacket
Official Military Personnel File
Physical Readiness Information Management System
Navy Awards
Career Management System/Interactive Detailing
Fleet RIDE/Perform To Serve
A qualified Sailor is a sought after employee

22. POINTS OF CONTACT For general policy questions contact OPNAV (N135):
Mr. Perry Christiansen - (901) /DSN , or
Mr. Tom Albert - (901) /DSN
For specific execution questions, contact CNIC (N91):
Ms. Rise Ruhl - (202) /DSN ;

23. QUESTIONS